Applicator for bowling alley coating materials



1962 A. T. RIEDI 3,047,899

APPLICATOR FOR BOWLING ALLEY COATING MATERIALS Filed Oct. 15, 1958 FIG. I

INVENTOR.

ARNOLD T. RIE Dl ATTORNEY 3,047,899 APPLICATOR FOR BOWLING ALLEY 1 CGATING MATE Arnold T. Riedi, Des Plaines, IlL, assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jerse y Filed Oct. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 767,336

8 Claims. (Cl. 15-210) The present invention relates to improvements in applicators for applying a coating liquid to a floor or other surface, and in particular to applicators for applying coating or finishing materials to the playing surface of bowling alleys.

In applicators commonly available heretofore for applying coating materials to the playing surface of bowling alleys, the coating material was applied over the entire alley surface. Oftentimes this full alley coverage resulted in a waste of coating material since frequently a bowling alley proprietor was desirous of coating only a selected portion or longitudinal strip of the alley namely; the ball paths generally used by right-handed bowlers, which receive the most wear in normal play.

The present invention is characterized by the provision of an applicator having a preferably hinged handle and a transverse head attached thereto provided with side extensions to enable the applicator to coat the entire alley surface when such is desired. The head is also provided with an internal recess at one side thereof to provide a reservoir for retaining coating liquid therein. The position of the recess is such that the coating material can be applied when desired to only a preselected portion of the alley surface as well as the entire alley surface. If desired, the undersurface of the head and extensions may be provided with mohair, sheepskin, lambs wool, or other suitable material for aiding in the distribution of the coating material evenly over the surface to be coated.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an applicator for applying a coating liquid to the entire playing surface of a bowling alley and to a preselected portion of the playing surface of a bowling alley.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an applicator having a preferably hinged handle and transverse head provided with an internal recess or confining portion capable of retaining coating fluid to coat preselected portions only of a bowling alley playing surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an applicator for applying a coating liquid selectively to the entire playing surface of a bowling alley or to only a portion thereof.

An added object of the present invention is to provide an applicator for applying a coating liquid to selected portions of the playing surface of a bowling alley having an undercoating for assisting in the even distribution of the coating material over the surface. 7

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding pants throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an applicator embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation of the applicator shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view partly in section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURE 1 there is illustrated an applicator 8 embodying the present invention. Applicator 8 comprises a handle 10 hingedly secured to a head desig- 3,047,899 Patented Aug. 7, 1962 nated generally 12, by bracket 11 and hinge pin 13. Hantile 10 and head 12 may be formed of any suitable material, such as, wood, aluminum or the like. As can be seen best in FIGURE 3, handle lti is joined adjacent the middle of head 12 and at an angle thereto to facilitate moving, pushing or pulling head 12 over a surface; such as, the playing bed of a conventional bowling alley (not shown) to which suitable liquid coating or finishing material (not shown) is to be applied. The coating or finishing materials which may be applied satisfactorily by applicator 8 include shellac, varnish, lacquer, plastic wax and the like.

Head 12 is provided at each end with transverse extensions 14 which may be integrally formed therewith or be suitably attached thereto. Extensions 14 are provided with ears 16 which operate to retain the coating material within head 12 preventing flow of the material into the gutters adjacent the playing surface of a bowling alley (not shown). Notches 17, formed at each of the junctures of extensions 14 and head 12 are operative to funnel or direct the coating material into the outermost corners and edges of head 12, ensuring even distributio thereof over the entire surface without streaking.

Head 12 is likewise provided with a recess 18 formed preferably on one side thereof as shown in FIGURE 1. However it will be readily understood that if desired recess 18 could be formed in either side of head 12 without affecting the operation of an applicator embodying the invention. Recess 18 operates to retain and distribute the coating material in this portion of head 12 such that only the selected portion of the alley or that part aligned with recess 18 will be'coated. If desired head 12 may be undersur faced with a suitable distributing material 20 such as mohair, sheepskin, lambs wool or the like. The coating material retained on the reservoir in front of head 12 filters through material 20 which operates to assist in the distribution of the coating material evenly either over the entire alley surface or the selected portion thereof. However, when head 12 is formed of metal, the distributing material 20 may be dispensed with, thus permitting the use of applicator '8 for drastically different types of coating materials without extensive cleaning thereof. Further, when the distributing material 2% is dispensed with the coating material tends to fill the irregularities or depressions on an alley surface (not shown) afiording a smoother surface than ordinarily obtainable.

In operation, the bowling alley proprietor, if he desires to coat the entire alley surface, places the coating material across the entire extent of head 12 between extensions 14. Applicator 8, by means of handle 10, is then pulled or dragged along the alley surface (not shown in the direction of arrow A, FIGURE 1. The coating material is thus distributed evenly over the entire alley surface. If the proprietor desires to coat only a portion of the alley surface, the coating material is placed in recess 18 and the handle is again actuated to move applicator 8 in the direction of arrow A, FIGURE 1. The coat-in g material is thus applied to only that portion of the alley surface over which recess 18 passes. To coat that portion of the alley beneath the spotting and respotting mechanism of a conventional automatic pin spotting machine, the operator actuates handle 10 pivoting it about hinge pin 13 to lower the free end of handle 10, permitting access to the alley surface beneath the spotting and respotting mechanism.

It will be understood that extensions 14 and recess 18 are so dimensioned that a sufficient coating material reservoir can be carried by applicator 8 to ensure proper and complete application of the entire howling alley length in one operation.

Thus, an applicator constructed in accordance with the present invention provides a convenient, inexpensive and oneness i3? eflicient means for selectively coating an entire bowling alley surface or pro-determined portions thereof.

What I claim is:

1. An applicator for applying coating material to a surface comprising a head having an upper portion, a substantially planar bottom portion, and end portions, said end portions including transverse extensions projecting outwardly from said head at an angle thereto for retaining a quantity of coating material therebetween for application to said surface, said head having a recess formed in one side thereof between one of said extensions and a point spaced from the other of said extensions operative to confine said coating material therein for application to selected limited portions only of said surface aligned with said recess, and means attached to said head for moving it over said surface to be coated.

2. The invent-ion as defined in claim 1 including cos:- ing material distributing member on the bottom portion of said head and said extensions.

3. An applicator for applying a coating material to the playing surface of a bowling alley comprising a handle, a head dimensioned to extend in operative position substantially across the entire playing surface of said alley, means securing said head transversely on one end of said handle, said head being provided with a substantially planar bottorn portion and substantially coplanar spaced extensions projecting outwardly therefrom at an angle to the longitudinal axis 01" said head for retaining the coating material therebetween for coating the entire of said playing surfiace, said head having a recess in one side thereof formed in said head between said handle and one of said extensions for retaining said coating material therein whereby only selected portions of said playing surface aligned with said recess are coated.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 including a coating material distributing member carried by said head and said extensions for applying said coating material to said alley surface.

5. The invention as denned in claim 3 including notches provided in each of said extensions at their juncture with said head to direct said coating material between said extensions into selected outer portions of said head.

6. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said head is formed of metal.

7. An applicator for applying a coating material to th piaying surface of a bowling alley comprising an elongated handle, a head dimensioned to extend in operative position substantially across the entire playing surface of said alley, means securing said head transversely on one end of said handle, said head being provided with substantially coplanar transverse extensions at the termi nal portions of said head for retaining the-coating material therebetween for coating the entire of said playing surface, said head having a front and rear edge, the front edge of a selected part of said head being offset and spaced longitudinally rearwardly of and relative to the remainder of the front edge of the head to provide an elongated recess in one side of said head for retaining said coating material therein whereby only selected portions of said playing surface aligned with said recess are coated.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 including notches provided in each of said extensions at their juncture with said head to direct said coating material between said extensions to predetermined portions adjacent the front edge of said head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,081,735 Caronia May 25, 1937 2,438,354 Unterbrink Mar. 23, 1948 2,760,219 Boeriu Aug. 28, 1956 2,763,019 Huber Sept. 18, 1956 

